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Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...

Hormones and Bone Tissue

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...

Bone Remodeling

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.

Bone Disorders

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

The growth and maintenance of bone are regulated by a combination of nutritional factors, including vitamins, such as vitamin A, B12, C, D, and K.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 12, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders

Published on: June 8, 2014

Therapeutic implications of suppressing osteoclast formation versus function.

Steven L Teitelbaum¹

¹Division of Bone and Mineral Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA teitelbs@wustl.edu.

Rheumatology (Oxford, England)

|November 19, 2016

Summary

New osteoporosis treatments targeting cathepsin K may preserve osteoblast recruitment. Unlike current therapies, this approach could maintain bone formation by preserving bone resorbing cells.

Keywords:

bone formation bone remodelling odanacatib osteoclast formation osteoclast function

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Last Updated: Mar 12, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Published on: June 8, 2014

Osteoclast Derivation from Mouse Bone Marrow

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Published on: November 6, 2014

Effect of Anti-c-fms Antibody on Osteoclast Formation and Proliferation of Osteoclast Precursor In Vitro

Effect of Anti-c-fms Antibody on Osteoclast Formation and Proliferation of Osteoclast Precursor In Vitro

Published on: March 18, 2019

Area of Science:

Bone biology
Pharmacology
Osteoporosis research

Background:

Anti-resorptive therapy is the primary treatment for osteoporosis.
Current drugs like bisphosphonates and denosumab reduce osteoclast numbers, inhibiting bone remodeling.
This reduction in bone remodeling also suppresses bone formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore novel anti-resorptive agents that preserve osteoblast recruitment.
To investigate the potential of cathepsin K inhibitors, like odanacatib, in osteoporosis treatment.
To determine if dampening osteoclast function without reducing their number can maintain bone formation.

Main Methods:

Review of existing evidence on osteoclast-osteoblast interactions.
Analysis of the mechanism of action for cathepsin K inhibitors.
Comparison of the effects of different anti-resorptive agents on bone remodeling.

Main Results:

Osteoclasts play a role in recruiting osteoblasts by releasing chemotactic factors.
Current anti-resorptive drugs that reduce osteoclast numbers also reduce osteoblast recruitment.
Cathepsin K inhibitors may inhibit osteoclast activity without decreasing their number, potentially preserving osteoblast recruitment.

Conclusions:

Agents like odanacatib that target osteoclast function rather than number offer a potential advantage.
Preserving osteoblast recruitment could lead to improved bone formation alongside resorption inhibition.
This approach may represent a more balanced strategy for treating osteoporotic disorders.